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                    <h2 style="margin-bottom: 20px;">Welcome to Blue Cities Exchange for the Charles River</h2>
                    <p>The Blue Cities Exchange is designed to help property owners understand what they need to do to meet stormwater permit requirements, and to help them trade or exchange stormwater pollution clean-up credits if they wish to do so. The Exchange focuses on reduction of phosphorus loads in the Charles River Watershed by suggesting appropriate stormwater controls or facilitating trading with alternate sites. At this stage, the emphasis is on the designated discharge (DD) parcels but the site could accommodate all parcels in the future.</p>
                    <p>For quick reference, please view our <a href="?page=glossary">Glossary of Terms</a> or <a href="#faq">Frequently Asked Questions</a>.</p>

                    <h2>Introduction</h2>
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                          <td style="width:90px;"><img src="images/woman_rain.jpg" alt="woman in rain" style="width:75px;" /></td>
                          <td><h3>The problem</h3>When it rains and when snow melts, water flows over pavement, cement, and rooftops. The water collects pollutants and flows into stormwater networks. Some of this stormwater is treated before entering the Charles River, and some of it is not. Stormwater pollution limits recreation on the Charles and harms aquatic life.</td>
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                          <td style="padding-top:10px;"><img src="images/books_gavel.jpg" alt="books and gavel" style="width:75px;" /></td>
                          <td style="padding-top:10px;"><h3>How does this affect me?</h3> The Environmental Protection Agency is issuing a permit, called the Designated Discharge Permit, that requires landowners in the Charles River Watershed to reduce the stormwater running off their properties. Landowners with more than two acres of impervious surfaces, such as concrete, pavement, or rooftops are required to reduce this stormwater runoff. However, landowners who are not required to reduce their runoff may still make improvements to their property and earn money.
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                          <td style="padding-top:10px;"><img src="images/tree_bulb.jpg" alt="tree bulb" style="width:75px;" /></td>
                          <td style="padding-top:10px;"><h3>What can I do?</h3>Stormwater becomes a problem to our natural water bodies when it flows over hard surfaces and into the stormwater network. To reduce this problem and meet the EPA permit requirements, landowners can construct stormwater controls such as rain gardens. Such controls clean the stormwater, allow it to absorb into the ground, or allow it to evaporate.  Blue Cities Exchange also introduces a new solution: allowing landowners to trade stormwater credits.</td>
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                          <td style="padding-top:10px;"><img src="images/money.jpg" alt="cash" style="width:75px;" /></td>
                          <td style="padding-top:10px;"><h3>How does trading work?</h3>Certain landowners are required by the EPA permit to reduce stormwater pollution from their property. However, the property’s soil type may not be ideal for constructing a stormwater control, or urban site constraints may make constructing a control very expensive. In these cases, landowners may elect to purchase stormwater credits in order to meet their permit requirement.  Stormwater credits are available through Blue Cities Exchange and are earned by landowners exceeding permit requirements of reducing stormwater pollution. For example, landowners who are not required by the permit to improve their property may install stormwater controls to earn credits, which they may sell on the Exchange.</td>
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                    <p>If this process seems complicated, don’t worry. Blue Cities Exchange will guide you through it step by step! <a href="?page=getStarted">Click here</a> to get started.</p>

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                    <h2><a name="faq"></a>Frequently Asked Questions</h2>
                    
                    <p class="faq-heading">- General Questions</p>
                    <span class="faq-question">Why do we need to reduce phosphorus loads in the Charles River?</span>
                    <p class="faq-answer">Phosphorus is the primary nutrient in the river required for plant and algae growth.  When there is too much phosphorus, there is excessive growth of weeds and algae.  In effect, the Charles is being vastly "over-fertilized." Weeds and algae cause major problems for aquatic life, restrict recreation, and threaten public health. Today, the Charles absorbs more than twice the amount of phosphorus it can handle. Consequently, most reaches of the river violate Massachusetts water quality standards; left unaddressed, many reaches of the river would become swamps within a few decades. Reducing the amount of phosphorus in the river is therefore critical.</p>
                    <span class="faq-question">Why is there so much phosphorus pollution in the Charles River?</span>
                    <p class="faq-answer">The Charles River runs through a dense and developed watershed.  A majority of the phosphorus pollution in the Charles comes from stormwater runoff, especially from impervious surfaces like rooftops, roads, and parking lots.  When rain lands on an impervious surface, it cannot seep into the ground, so the runoff picks up whatever pollutants are on that surface (like oil, auto exhaust residues which contain phosphorus, sand, soil, litter, decaying vegetation and organic material) and then carries the pollutants into storm drains which connect directly to the river.</p>
                    <span class="faq-question">What are DD parcels?</span>
                    <p class="faq-answer">The name Designated Discharge, or DD, comes from the residual designation authority (RDA) section of the Clean Water Act (1977).  RDA allows the US-EPA to designate (and regulate) polluted discharges to surface waters, and to develop new permits to reduce pollution from those discharges. Stormwater loads from commercial, industrial, and high-density residential properties with more than two acres of impervious cover have significant unregulated phosphorus pollution loads.  US-EPA New England has recently issued a new draft DD stormwater permit applicable to these properties. The draft permit is being piloted in three Massachusetts towns: Bellingham, Franklin, and Milford.  DD stormwater permits for regulated properties in the Charles River Watershed require an annual phosphorus load reduction of 65 percent.<br><br>
                    Information on the EPA Designated Discharge Permit for the Charles River Watershed: <a href="http://www.epa.gov/region1/npdes/charlesriver/index.html">http://www.epa.gov/region1/npdes/charlesriver/index.html</a></p>
                    <span class="faq-question">Who will use the Exchange?</span>
                    <p class="faq-answer">Property owners, permittees, engineers for permittees, developers, municipal and state officials, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and US-EPA.</p>
                    <span class="faq-question">Can anybody use the Exchange?</span>
                    <p class="faq-answer">Most web pages are open to the public on Exchange.  However, to file for phosphorus credits or to execute trades, one must register on the website.</p>
                    <span class="faq-question">How do you start using the Exchange?</span>
                    <p class="faq-answer">Follow the website links which will guide you through the design and trading process. There will be instructions to help you along the way. Advanced users can navigate through Location, Solutions, Design, and Trading pages to move more quickly and access advanced design functions.</p>
                    <span class="faq-question">What are Mass-DEP and US-EPA Region 1?</span>
                    <p class="faq-answer">Mass-DEP is the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.  US-EPA is the United States Environmental Protection Agency.  Region 1 is New England.</p>
                    
                    <p class="faq-heading">- Site Location Questions</p>
                    <span class="faq-question">What do the Site Location pages do?</span>
                    <p class="faq-answer">The Site Location pages allow the user to search for parcels, zoom to a specific parcel, and view surrounding parcels.  The DD checkbox allows the user to focus only on DD parcels, or, by not checking the box, look at all parcels.</p>
                    <span class="faq-question">How do you search for a parcel by assessor ID or owner name?</span>
                    <p class="faq-answer">Enter the parcel's assessor number or the owner name in the upper left search box and hit Enter or the Magnifying Glass button.  Partial numbers and names are allowed.  The list on the left-hand-side shows the results of your search. Double-clicking on any item in the list will make the map on the right-hand-side zoom to and highlight the selected the parcel.  The X button cancels the search.</p>
                    <span class="faq-question">How do you search for (or query) a parcel by street address?</span>
                    <p class="faq-answer">Enter the street address in the upper right search box and hit Enter or the Magnifying Glass button. Partial addresses are allowed, but a town name might be required to clarify the search.  The map on the right-hand-side will zoom to the address.  The list on the left-hand-side shows parcels near the address.  Double-clicking on any item in the list will make the map on the right-hand-side zoom to and highlight the selected the parcel. The X button cancels the search.</p>
                    <span class="faq-question">How do you clear a query?</span>
                    <p class="faq-answer">The X button cancels any search. The Reset map and fields button will zoom to the extent of the map and clear the query.</p>
                    <span class="faq-question">What does the check box for DD Parcels Only do?</span>
                    <p class="faq-answer">This check box filters the results for both the table and the map views.  Checking the box shows just the DD parcels, while clearing the box shows all parcels.</p>
                    
                    <p class="faq-heading">- Design Questions</p>
                    <span class="faq-question">What do the Design pages do</span>
                    <p class="faq-answer">The Design pages allow the user to investigate possible stormwater control options for a property and evaluate potential costs. Exchange does this using publicly available data about each property including property lines, parcel information, the amount of impervious area (rooftops, roads, and parking lots), and soil properties. This information is then used to help evaluate the feasibility of different stormwater controls for the site.</p>
                    <span class="faq-question">What is a stormwater control?</span>
                    <p class="faq-answer">A stormwater control is a means of controlling or lowering stormwater peak flow, runoff volume, and pollutants (including phosphorus), thereby improving stormwater flow patterns and water quality.</p>
                    <span class="faq-question">What is a structural stormwater control?</span>
                    <p class="faq-answer">Structural controls are physical installations that control both stormwater runoff volume and pollutants. Exchange evaluates these structural stormwater controls: bioretention basins, tree filters, gravel wetlands, rain gardens, infiltration basins, infiltration trenches, subsurfacechambers, dry extended detention basins, wet extended detention basins, and grass swales. Other controls will be added when the phosphorus removal efficiencies for those controls have been better defined.</p>
                    <span class="faq-question">What is a non-structural stormwater control?</span>
                    <p class="faq-answer">Non-structural controls are non-physical methods that control pollutants. Examples include: street sweeping, catch basin cleaning, phosphorus fertilizer elimination, leaf litter pickup, illicit discharge disconnection and elimination, and septic system decommission. Currently, Exchange does not include non-structural controls.</p>
                    <span class="faq-question">What do the stormwater control goals accomplish?</span>
                    <p class="faq-answer">The goals section allows users to change their priorities for stormwater controls at their site. Selected goals affect Exchange's ranking of stormwater controls.  For example, if aesthetics is a high priority, then underground or more attractive controls will be ranked higher.</p>
                    <span class="faq-question">How does the Exchange rank stormwater controls?</span>
                    <p class="faq-answer">Exchange uses average site soil conditions (depth, depth to seasonal high water table, hydrologic soil group, site area) and selected goals (aesthetic, Total Suspended Solids/metals reduction, phosphorus reduction, nitrogen reduction, bacteria reduction, peak flow reduction, volume reduction) to rank the stormwater controls.  A simple equal weighting of site suitability and goals is used.</p>
                    <span class="faq-question">Can the Exchange size the dimensions of the stormwater control?</span>
                    <p class="faq-answer">Not at this time, although CRWA plans to add sizing tools to the website.</p>
                    <span class="faq-question">What is a water quality depth?*</span>
                    <p class="faq-answer">The water quality depth is the depth of rainfall that can be treated (or held) by the stormwater control. For example, a stormwater control with a water quality depth of 0.5 inches is designed to treat all of the runoff from half an inch of rainfall on the area that drains to that control.  Smaller storms are collected by the control in their entirety. Larger storms bypass or flow through the system without being treated.  Greater water quality depths mean more of the stormwater volume is controlled and treated and the pollutant removal efficiency is higher.</p>
                    <span class="faq-question">How does the Exchange determine planning-level costs?</span>
                    <p class="faq-answer">Planning-level costs are determined from average unit construction costs for new stormwater controls, based on research and data from controls built in New England. No engineering design costs, permitting costs or property values are included.  The estimated new cost is recalculated using a [cost modifier] to reflect actual site conditions and new versus retrofit costs.  These planning-level costs should be subsequently verified by more detailed engineering at each site.</p>
                    <span class="faq-question">What is the cost modifier?</span>
                    <p class="faq-answer">The cost modifier changes the estimated new construction cost to more accurate estimate of cost based on the  site conditions (undeveloped, partly developed, or developed) and the type of stormwater control (new or retrofit of an existing control). New construction on undeveloped properties generally costs less than construction on already developed sites.  Retrofits of existing stormwater controls are generally less expensive than new construction.</p>
                    <span class="faq-question">How do you find the cost of a stormwater control that meets the required phosphorus removal criteria?</span>
                    <p class="faq-answer">Enter the required percent removal number in the Load Reduction (%) box. Exchange then calculates the water quality depth and costs corresponding to the entered percent reduction for the selected stormwater control.  If the stormwater control is unable to meet the percent load reduction, the maximum reduction (%) for the site and corresponding depth and cost will be calculated.</p>
                    <span class="faq-question">How do you find the cost of a stormwater control that treated a specific water quality depth?</span>
                    <p class="faq-answer">Enter the water quality depth (maximum of 10 inches) in the Water Quality Depth <insert link to definition> box.  Exchange then calculates the cost corresponding to the water quality depth for the selected stormwater control.</p>
                    
                    <p class="faq-heading">- Trading Questions</p>
                    <span class="faq-question">How do you use the Trading pages?</span>
                    <p class="faq-answer">The Trading pages allow the user to find potential buyers and sellers, pricing information, and contact information. This page follows real-estate protocols, where the search is for suitably-sized credits at an appropriate price. To complete trades, those offering credits must be contacted directly offline. The Forms pages allow for entry and submission of offline trades to Exchange so site credits can be updated for both the buyer and seller, and regulators can be notified.</p>
                    <span class="faq-question">Who are the potential buyers and sellers?</span>
                    <p class="faq-answer">Potential buyers are property owners who cannot meet their phosphorus load reduction on site, or who seek to reduce an otherwise high cost to retrofit, and therefore have a phosphorus reduction deficit. Potential sellers are property owners who reduce the annual phosphorus load from their site more than they are required under the permit, thereby creating a phosphorus reduction credit. Unregulated property owners who determine that treating stormwater on their property is economical (good soils, ability to collect stormwater from a storm drain) may also sell credits and install the necessary controls.</p>
                    <span class="faq-question">What is a phosphorus reduction deficit?</span>
                    <p class="faq-answer">A phosphorus reduction deficit (lb/yr) exists when the stormwater control removes less phosphorus than is required on that parcel. A DD parcel that has a stormwater control designed to remove 55% of the phosphorus load does not meet the permit requirement of 65%, creating a 10% deficit. A parcel with no DD permit automatically has 0% deficit. The percent credit, when converted into an annual load, is the phosphorus credit (lb/yr).</p>
                    <span class="faq-question">What is a phosphorus reduction credit?</span>
                    <p class="faq-answer">A phosphorus reduction credit (lb/yr) exists when the stormwater control removes more phosphorus than is required on that parcel. A DD parcel that has a stormwater control designed to remove 75% of the phosphorus load exceeds the permit requirement of 65%, creating a 10% credit. A non-DD parcel with a voluntary stormwater control designed to remove 30% of the phosphorus load creates a credit of 30% for the volume of water it treats. The percent credit, when converted into an annual load, is the phosphorus credit (lb/yr).</p>
                    <span class="faq-question">How do you find a parcel with a suitable phosphorus credit to trade?</span>
                    <p class="faq-answer">Use the load removal (lb/yr) and cost information ($ or $/lb/yr) next to the thumbnail map to compare the chosen stormwater control with the list of sites with credits. Any column can be sorted in either direction by clicking on the column header. A site with a cheaper trade might be preferable to the onsite installation of a stormwater control.</p>
                    <span class="faq-question">How do you contact the approved trader?</span>
                    <p class="faq-answer">Double-clicking on the line with the suitable phosphorus credit will display detailed contact information.  The buyer is expected to contact the seller offline.</p>
                    <span class="faq-question">How do make a trade with the approved trader?</span>
                    <p class="faq-answer">The buyer is expected to contact the seller to discuss the pricing and complete the trade.  The Forms page allows for submission of the offline trade back to Exchange so the site credits can be updated for both the buyer and seller, and regulators notified.</p>
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